Automatic musical instrument



C. F. STODDARD.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. 191a.

,360,049. I Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

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AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT- APPLlCATION FILED MAR. 7. I918.

- Patented Nov. 23, 19260 1 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. STODDARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. S roouam), a citizen of the United S ates of America, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improve ment in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This ihvention relates to automatic musical instruments such as player pianos, and pertains more particularly to mechanism for controlling the operation of the note sheet winding and rewinding apparatus. The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus for automatically controlling the winding and rewmdmg of the note sheet and to effect a repetition of the composition if desired; such apparatus being preferably combined with means for stopping the driving motor.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been selected herein for illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portionof a player piano, showing an assembly of 1llustrative apparatus embodying the presentinrention,

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the key rail showing suitable hand control levers.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one element of the controlling mechanism.

Referring to Fig.1 ofthe drawings, 10 designates the key bed of a typical player piano abovewhich boards 11 and 12 conceal the usual pneumatic action. Located above the pneumatic action is a spool b0); 13 having a tracker bar 14 provided with vents which are connected with the player pneumatics in the usual manner. Journaled in' the spool box in the usual manner is a takeup roll 15, while above the tracker bar are the usual bearings 16 and 17 between which a music spool 18 may be placed so that a note sheet 19 may be fed back and forth between the note sheet spool and the takeup roll.

To drive the take-up roll there is provided a gear 20 fast thereto and adapted to mesh with a pinion 21 carried by a longitudinally slidable shaft 22 journaled in a frame 23 fastened to the side of the spool box. The

shaft 22 carries a sprocket 24 at its outer Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d N 23 192 Application filed March 7, 1918.

Serial No. 220,940.

end, which is connected by a chain 25 with a sprocket 26 fast to a shaft 27 of a. wind -motor 28. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 22 inside the vertical frame of the bracket 23 is a sprocket 29. This, sprocket is connected by a chain 30 with a sprocket 31 fast to a shaft 32 which is attached directly to the right hand spool bearing 17. The shaft 32 is suitably journaled in the frame 23.

A clutch. mechanism of the usual type is provided to connect the motor alternatively with the take-up roll or note sheet spool;

the same being herein shown as a collar 33 fast to the shaft 22 and provided with a pin 34 which may engage a pin 35, projecting inwardly from the sprocket 29, when the shaft 22 is moved to the right to disengage the pinion 21 from the gear 20. A. clutch lever 36 is pivoted at 37 to the frame 23 and is connected by a link 38 with a vertical shaft '39 which in turn is connected by a link 40 with a reversing lever 41 pivoted at 42 to the key bed.

With the parts in. the position shown, that is, with the reverse lever thrown to the right 1 the operation of the wind motor will rotate the take-up roll to wind the note sheet thereon. When the reverse lever is thrown to the left the clutch lever 36 will move the shaft 22 to the right thus disengaging the pinion 21 from the gear 20 and engaging the pins 34 and 35 to drive the note sheet spool and rewindthe note sheet thereon.

Power is supplied to the wind motor 28 by an exhaust apparatus of any practicable type here shown. as located within a casing 50 and driven through a fly wheel 51 which is contact member (51 of the switch may be connected with the motor through a wire 62' A switch handle 63 may be located conveniently upon the key rail, pivoted-atGland,

connected with the movable contact member of the switch by a rod 65. With the switch lever 63 in, the posit/ion shown, the switch will be closed and the exhaustingapparatus When the driven by the electric motor. switch lever 63 is thrown to the right the switch is opened and the motor will stop.

In instruments of the character referred to herein, it is desirable to provide means for automatically reversing the direction of the feed of the note sheet at the end of the composition, and thereafter, when the note sheet has been completely rewound, for automatically stopping the electric motor. It is also desirable to provide means for automatically repeating the playing of a composition when desired. The parts of the herein disclosed apparatus embodying these automatic features will be described in the se uence indicated.

eferring particularly to Fig. 3, which is a diagrammatic representation of the parts now to be described, and referring only to Fig. 1 to indicate a preferred assembly, it will be seen that the reverse lever 41 is provided with a cross-arm 75 which is engaged at the right of the pivot 42 by the movable board of a pneumatic 76 and at the left by the movable board of a pneumatic 77. These pneumatics are provided for automatically throwing the lever 41 from one side to the other; the collapse of the pneumatic 76 being adapted to move the lever 41 to the playing position and the collapse of the pneumatic 77 being adapted to move the lever 41 to the reverse position.

The pneumatic 77, which is adapted to reverse the travel of the note sheet, is in com-- munication through a duct 87 with a valve chamber 89 having a port 90 to atmosphere and a port 91 to an. exhaust chamber 92 which is connected by aduct 93 with the main exhaust chest 54. A valve 94 is mounted within the valve chamber 89 and has a stem resting upon a diaphragm 95 of a diaphragm chamber 96. The diaphragm chamber 96 is connected by a channel 97 with a valve chamber 98 having a port 99 to the exhaust chamber 92. A duct 100 opens into the valve chamber 98 at a point where it is adapted to be closed by a valve 101 mounted therein,

For the present the valve 101 may be disregarded and it may be assumed that ducts 97 and 100 are directly connected. The office of the valve 101 will be later described.

The duct 100 opens to a valve chamber 102 having a port 103' to atmosphere and a port 104 to the exhaust chamber 92. A duplex valve 105 is mounted within the valve chamber 102 and is adapted to open ports 103 and 104 alternatively. This valve 105 rests upon a diaphragm 106 over a diaphragm chamber 107 which is connected by a duct 108 with a vent 109 in the tracker bar. This tracker vent is so located that it will not be opened by any of the note perforations but may be opened by a perforationproperly located. If, therefore, a perforation is placed in the note sheet near the end thereof so that it will reach the tracker bar after all the note perforations have passed, the vent 109 may be opened to admit atmosphere and operate the train of. valve mechanism to connect pneumatic 77 with the exhaust chest 54, throw the lever 41 to the rewind position, thus connecting the wind motor 28 with the note sheet spool to rewind-the note sheet thereon.

The operation of the valve mechanisms will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following brief description. Atmosphere beingadmitted to duct 108 will permit diaphragm 106 to rise, close port 104, open port 103 and admit atmosphere to duct 100 which, being in communication with duct 97 and diaphragm chamber 96, .will admit atmosphere to that chamber and permit valve 94 to be raised closing atmosphere port and opening exhaust port 91. This will place the interior of pneumatic 77 in communication with the exhaust chest 92 through the duct 87 whereupon the pneumatic 77 will be collapsed and throw the reverse lever to the left as previously described.

Having thus described the automatic reversing mechanism the electric motor stop mechanism will now be described.

The movable board of a pneumatic 110 is attached to the switch lever 63 by a link 111 this pneumatic being adapted to throw the lever to the right when it is collapsed and thus open the electric circuit through the motor. The interior-of the pneumatic 110 is in communication, through. a duct 112.

with a valve chamber 113 having a port 114 i to atmosphere and a port 115 to an exhaust chamber 116 which is connected to the main exhaust chest 54 by a duct 120. A valve 117 is mounted in thevalve chamber 113 and its stem rests upon a diaphragm 118 over a diaphragm chamber 119. The diaphragm chamber 119 is connected by a duct 121 with a switch valve 122 which comprises a cylindrical casing 123 having a rotatable valve member 124 fast to a handle 12:) projecting through the kev bed. The valve casing 123 is provided with the central port 126, which may be connected alternatively with adjacent ports 127 and 128. In the position shown the duct 121 is in communication with a duct 129 through ports 126 and 127.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the opening of duct 129 to atmosphere will permit the valve 117 to be raised to close atmosphere port 114 and open exhaust port 115 thereby connecting pneumatic 110 with exhaust chamber 116, collapsing the pneumatic and operating the switch lever to open the electric circuit and sto) the motor.

uitable means are provided for opening the duct 129 preferably just before the note sheet has become entirely disengaged from the take-up roll. Such means are herein shown as lever 130, pivoted at 131 to the spool box and alined with an annular groove the port 135 when the stop lever 130 is.

moved to the left a distance slightly less I than the difference between the radius of the annular groove and the normal radius of the take-up roll.

It will therefore be apparent that when a note sheet is inserted in an instrument and given a few turns about the take-up roll the lever 130 will be moved to the left a sufficient distance to close the -port 135. When in the operation of the instrument, the note sheet continues to wind upon the spool the lever 130 will be moved still farther to the left but this movement will have no effeet as the spring arm 136 will yield, and the port 135 remain closed.

It will also be apparent that when, in the rewinding of the note sheet, the annular groove is uncovered so that the lever 130 may move to the right, the port 135 will be open to admit atmosphere to duct 129 through the switch valve to duct 1.21 and to the valve mechanism which operates the pneumatic 110 and opens the electric switch.

Having thus described the automatic re verse mechanism and the automatic stop mechanism, the means herein disclosed to effect the automatic repetition of a composition will now be described. I,

It has become practicallv universal practice in the manufacture of note sheets to taper the leading end of the note sheet to a point where a ring or other fastening device is attached for the purpose of engaging the take-up roll. Thus when the note sheet is wound upon the take-up the tapered edges lie upon the spool in a spiral from the point of attachment to the flanges. Therefore as the note sheet is unwound, the surface of thespool adjacent the flange is first uncovered. Tlius when the usual note sheet is used in conjunction with the apparatus previously described the lever 1.30 will drop into the annular groove 132 and open the port 135 before the note sheethas become disengaged from the spool and substantially at a point in'the unwindins of the note sheet indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings herein. Therefore, if the opening of port 135 is caused to operate the clutch mechanism, specifically to reengage pinion 21 and gear 20, instead of stopping the electric motor the note sheet will be fed forward again to repeat the playing of the composition embodied in the note playing perforation thereof.

Suitable means are herein provided for attaining this desired object, the same be ing herein shown as follows: The switch valve 125 if thrown to the left will close port 127 in its casing and connect port 126 with port 128 thereby,placing the duct 129 in communication with a duct 150 for the purpose of controlling the repeat mechanism now to be described.

The pneumatic 76 which is adapted to throw the reverse lever to the play position is in communication through a duct 151 with a valve chamber 152 having a port 153 to atmosphere and a port 151 to the exhaust chest 92. A valve 155 is mounted within the valve chamber 152 and has a stem resting upon a diaphragm 156 of a diaphragm chamber 157. A channel 158 connects the diaphragm chamber 151 with a valve chamber 159 having a port 160to atmosphere and a port 161 to the exhaust chest- 92. A duplex valve 162 is adapted to open ports 160 and 161 alternatively and rests upon a diaphragm 163 of a diaphragm chamber 164. The diaphragm chamber 164.- is incommunication. with a duct 150 through a channel 165. If therefore atmosphere is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 16%. by the opening of port 135 valve 162 will be raised to admit atmosphere through channel 158 to diaphragm chamber 157 thus per mitting valve 155 to be raised and place pneumatic 76 in communication with the exhaust chest 92, whereupon the pneumatic will be collapsed and throw the reverse lever llto the play position thus effecting the automatic reengagement of the wind motor with the take-up roll.

After the operation of the reversing mechanism by the opening of the tracker vent 109, the note sheet may arch up from the tracker bar during rewinding and leave vent 109 open or partially open when stop lever 130 moves forward to open port 135. If this happened with the switch valve in repeat position both pneumatic-s 76 and 77 would be in communication with exhaust at the same time. Means are therefore provided to insure the effective operation of the repeat mechanism even under such circumstances. As a preferred. embodiment of such means I provide a locking valve which will operate upon the opening of vent 135 to shut off communication between the primary valve 105 and the secondary valve 9 1- of the reverse mechanism. This locking valve is the valve 101 previously referred to.

The valve 101 has a stem resting upon a diaphragm 170 of a diaphragm chamber 171. This diaphragm chamber is in communication with the channel 165 so that simulerate the locking valve.

to diaphragm chamber 164 to operate the repeat mechanism atmosphere will also be admitted to diaphragm chamber 171 to op- The admission of atmosphere will cause the locking valve to be raised and seat against the upper wall of the valve chamber 98 thus closing duct 1.00. Thereafter the operation of valve 105 cannot admit atmosphere to the diaphragm chamber of the secondary valve 94. On the contrary diaphragm chamber 96 will be in communication with exhaust chamber 92 through port 99 under the locking valve.

The operation of the apparatus heretofore described may be briefly summarized as follows W ith the electric switch lever in off position and the reverse lever in rewind position, as indicated in Fig. 2, a note sheet may be inserted in the instrument in the usual manner and given a few turns about the take-up roll. The note sheet will cover and close the reverse operating tracker vent 109 and will throw the lever 180 to the left closing port 135. Then the reverse lever may be moved to the play position and the switch to the on position which will start the electric motor and the playing of the composition.

If it is desired merely to play the composition once the repeat lever 125 may be left in the position shown in Fig. 1 and in such a case an appropriate perforation in the note sheet at the end of the composition will open tracker vent 109 to operate the reverse mechanism and when the note sheet has been sufliciently rewound to allow the stop lever 130 to drop in the groove 132, the port 135 will be opened to operate the electric switch and stop the motor; the momentum of the moving parts being sufiicient to entirely rewind the note sheet upon the music spool.

If, however, at any time before the playing of the composition or during its playing, or during the rewinding, it is thought desirable to repeat the composition, the repeat lever 125 may be thrown to the left thus connecting the duct 135 with the repeat mechanism which will be operated at the appropriate time to reengage the pneumatic motor with the take-up roll and again start the forward feeding of the note sheet. The composition will be repeated as long as the lever 125 is left in repeat position.

It is to be understood that the present invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an instrument of the character described the combination of motor stop mechanism, pneumatic control means governed by the note sheet. note sheet driving means including a clutch, pneumatically operable clutch throwing means, and a valve for connecting said pneumatic control means alternatively with the motor stop mechanism-or the clutch throwing means.

2. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a power plant including an electric motor and a switch therefor, switch operating mechanism, note sheet feeding means including a spool and take-up roll, a motor for the note sheet feeding means, clutch mechanism interposed between the said motor and the feeding means, note sheet governed means for operating said clutch mechanism, control means adapted to be operated by the uncovering of the take-up roll, and means to connect said control means alternatively with the clutch operating mechanism or the switch operating mechanism.

In an automatic musical instrument the combination of a spool for the note sheet, a tracker, a take-up roll to receive the note sheet from the spool, clutch mechanism, driving means adapted to be connected by said clutch mechanism alternatively with the spool or the take'up roll, pneumatic clutch operating mechanism, governing means for the clutch operating mechanism including tracker controlled means for engaging the driving means with the spool and means cooperating with the take-up roll and rendered operative by the partial uncovering thereof to engage the driving means with the take-up roll, pneumatic motor stop mechanism, and a valve to connect one of the clutch operating elements therewith.

4. In an automatic musical instrument the combination of a spool for the note sheet, a tracker, a take-up roll to receive the note sheet from the spool, a wind motor, a clutch to connect the wind motor alternatively with the spool or take-up roll, a stop mechanism, automatic means to operate the clutch to engage the wind motor with the spool operable by the opening of a tracker vent, means to operate the clutch to engage the wind motor with the take-up roll upon the partial uncovering thereof, and a valve to connect I erable by the opening of a tracker vent,

means to operate the clutch to engage the wind motor with the take-up roll upon the 7 partial uncovering thereof, a valve to connect a controlling element of said last named means with the stop mechanism, and means effective upon the operation of said last named clutch operating means to render the tracker controlled clutch operating means ineffective.

6. In an automatic musical instrument the combination of a spool for the note sheet, a tracker, a take-up roll to receive the note sheet from the spool, a wind motor, a clutch to connect the wind motor alternatively with the spool or take-up roll, a stop mechanism,- automatic means to operate the clutch to engage the wind motor with the spool operable by the opening of a tracker vent, means to operate the clutch to engage the wind mo tor with the take-up roll upon the partial uncovering thereof, and a valve operable simultaneously with said last named means to shut off communication between said tracker controlled clutch operating means and the said tracker vent,

7. In a automatic musical instrument the combination of a spool for the note sheet, a tracker, a take-up roll to receive the note sheet from the spool, a wind motor for driving the note sheet, a clutch for connecting the wind motor alternatively with the spool or the take-up roll, pneumatic means having connection with a tracker vent for engaging the clutch with the spool to rewind the note sheet, and pneumatic means having connection with a con-trolling element adjacent the take-up roll and operable by the partial uncovering thereof to engage the clutch with the take-up roll to feed the note sheet forward, the operation of said last named means rendering ineffective the opening of said rewind controlling tracker vent.

8. In an automatic musical instrument the combination of a spool for thenote sheet, a tracker, a take-up roll to receive the note sheet from the spool, a wind motor for driving the note sheet, a clutch for connecting the Wind motor alternatively with the spool or the take-up roll, clutch operating means to engage the clutch with the spool for rewinding including a primary valve operable from a tracker vent and a secondary valve, pneumatlc means having connection wlth a controlling element adjacent the take-up roll and operable by the partial uncovering thereof to engage the clutch with the take-up roll to feed the note sheet forward, and a valve operated by the controlling element adjacent the take-up roll to close communication between said primary and said secondary valves.

9. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a spool for the note sheet, a tracker, a take-up roll to receive the note sheet from the spool, said roll being provided with an annular groove adj acent one end, automatic motor stop mechanism including a valve controlling lever adapted to move into said annular groove when it is uncovered by the note sheet, note sheet driving means including a clutch, pneumatically operable clutch throwing means,

and means providing an operative connec- CHARLES F. S TODDARD. 

